Nostr Web Client

Bluesky’s announced developer grants, $10k in all…

https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/11/bluesky-is-funding-developer-projects-to-give-its-twitter-x-alternative-a-boost/

That’s such a huge difference from the way money’s being spent in the nostr ecosystem with OpenSats being able to provide substantial funds to tons of projects and developers.

I don’t mean to post tons about bluesky, but I think it’s important that nostr devs and community be aware of what’s going on beyond our space. The biggest thing I’ve heard talking at a bunch of conferences lately is how concerned folks are about the meta business model for Threads and how the rest of the fediverse and bluesky lack a business model.

If I say nostr uses bitcoin, then we end up in an ideological debate. If I mention lightning, only crypto folks have heard of it. But if I say nostr solves the business model problem that other open protocols have by providing an easy way for fast cheap micropayments, folks get really excited. I think this is a powerful marketing message. Nostr has micropayments to sustain the ecosystem and creators. Those payments use bitcoin lightning, we don’t need to hide that, but it’s a tool. If we start with bitcoin, then we bring up all sorts of debates. If we say, nostr’s micropayments solves a critical issue, then folks get really interested in nostr.

Reply to this note

Please Login to reply.

Discussion

brad 1y ago

Is there a way to say micropayments and then not lose them when the explanation mentions bitcoin?

rabble 1y ago

The way I’ve been doing it is to not mention bitcoin at all unless they ask how the micropayments work. Just say, on the open nostr network you can send micropayments to tip people and pay for content and services.

Honestly, to a non-technical person, they don’t really know the difference between PayPal, apple wallet, a bank account, western union, a credit card, or pre-paid debit card.

If they are concerned about bitcoin, it’s either because they feel crypto currencies are speculative bubbles (bitcoin is lumped in with everybody else) or the environmental impact of mining. I say lightning transactions don’t require mining, the only impact is the occasional and limited reconciliation on to the main bitcoin blockchain. I avoid the arguments about mining and its carbon impact, just say, lightning is a network on top of bitcoin which doesn’t need mining to work.

Just like nobody asks for the hashing function on nostr vs bluesky vs farcaster, most people need to know what it can do for them, what pressing problem it can solve, not how it solves it.

mark tyler 1y ago

💯

This is the way to win

StackSats.IO 1y ago

Well done mate. We need more people to focus on how they “sell” these ideas to people outside of these circles.

Can have the best devs in the world but marketing and sales exist as disciplines for a reason - that’s how you get adoption.

Chad Lupkes 1y ago

I think what excites me the most is that this is global. No more imaginary lines on maps. Humanity is one family, and our micropayments can go to anyone who deserves them, no matter where they are.

JeffG 1y ago

I’m glad you keep sharing this stuff here. I agree it’s important that we learn from as many sources as possible.

That said, it’s really saying something about the open mindedness of the blue sky community that they dismiss any mention of bitcoin outright.

🤷‍♂️ their loss.

yutaro 1y ago

👏👏👏